Binding device

ABSTRACT

A binding device having a stapler receiving stand and a binding stand mounted on a base. The receiving stand pivotally supports a magazine holding a plurality of staples and a depressable member movable relative to the magazine. The depressable member has means thereon for ejecting a staple from the magazine, for cutting a tape, and for removing tape chips. A tape tightening mechanism coacts between the receiving stand and the depressable member and includes a pair of rollers for guiding the tape and for effecting a tightening thereof. An actuating lever engages and rotates the depressable member with the lever, which rotation is interrupted temporarily before binding occurs. A rotation transmission mechanism coacts with the lever to transmit the turning motion of the lever to one of the guide rollers during said interruption to withdraw the excess tape. The binding stand is provided with a stable bending bench, a mechanism for holding the front tip of the tape, and a placement stand on which an article can be bound in a stable condition.

United States Patent [191 Nishikawa [451 Nov. 13, 1973 BINDING DEVICE 3,603,497 9/1971 Nishikawa 227/76 [75] Inventor: Mitsuo Nishikawa, Takasaki-shi,

Japan Primary Examiner-Granville Y. Custer, Jr. I Attorney-Woodhams, Blanchard & Flynn [73] Asslgneez Max Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Dec. 27, 1971 [57] ABSTRACT [2]] Appl- 211,894 A binding device having a stapler receiving stand and a binding stand mounted on a base. The receiving 30 Foreign Application priority Data stand pivotally supports a magazine holding a plurality Dec 31 1970 la an 45/128365 of staples and a depressable member movable relative Jan '1971 Japan 46/605 to the magazine. The depressable member has means 1971 Japan 116/2724 thereon for ejecting a staple from the magazine, for 1971 Japan "46/57273 cutting a tape, and for removing tape chips. A tape Se t 97] Japan 46/72721 tightening mechanism coacts between the receiving p p stand and the depressable member and includes a pair 52 us. Cl 227/76, 227/120 227/124' guiding the .tape and effecting a fight 156/495 156/530 enmg thereof. An actuating lever engages and rotates [51] Int Cl I525: 5/02 the depressable member with the lever, which rotation [58} Fie'ld 4 76 120 is interrupted temporarily before binding occurs. A 227/124 2, rotation transmission mechanism coacts with the lever to transmit the turning motion of the lever to one of the guide rollers during said interruption to withdraw the. excess tape. The binding stand is provided with a [56] References Cited stable bending bench, a mechanism for holding the UNITED STATES PATENTS front tip of the tape, and a placement stand on which 2,438,712 3/1948 Lindstrom 227/l24 an article can be bound in a stable condition. 2,996,720 8/1961 Mackechnic.... 227/76 3,589,585 6/1971 Cerioni 227/76 10 Claims, 24 Drawing Figures 7 q I 3| I 8 23 20 I9 2| I I I B 'w I I 0/, I I 1 I 3? 3 33 23' PATENTEBNUV 13 ms 3.771. 707

sum oanr 10 Q in PAIENIEUMM 13 I975 SHEET 06 [1F 10 Fig. ll

PATENIEBKUHBIQIS 3371.707 sum cam 10 Pmmwnnv 13 me. 3771. 707 saw mo? 10 1. BINDING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a binding device and, in particular, to an improved binding device which is capable of tightly and securely binding various articles with a binding tape.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various devices have been provided for permitting the binding of articles or objects by means of a flexible element, such as a tape or the like. However, all of these prior known'devices have possessed numerous disadvantages which have made their use undesirable. For example, the known devices have been very inefficient to utilize in that they have required the sequential performance of several steps to permit a single binding operation to be performed. Alternately, they have required substantial manual manipulation on the part of the operator, which also results in a very inefficient binding operation. Further, the known devices have been extremely wasteful of the binding material, and have not been readily adjustable to accommodate articles or objects having widely varying sizes or shapes.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a binding device which is capable of tightly and securely binding variousarticles with a binding tape in a stable condition by a simple operation.

Another object of the present device is to provide a device for drawing out and tightening the tape in surrounding relationship to the article prior to binding of the tape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device which is capable of automatically clearing the chips of tape remaining on a tape receiving plate which holds a binding tape during the binding process, and of automatically holding and releasing said tape.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device which enables the fast binding by tightening the tape, which can be wound around anarticle to be bound irrespective of its size, during the process inwhichthe handle of the device is operated for effecting binding.

Still a further object of the present device is to provide a table device which enables a smooth andquick binding operation by detaching of freely changing the position of a table for carrying an article to be bound according to the size of the article to bebound.

Other objects and purposes of the invention will be apparent to persons acquainted with devices of this type upon reading the following description and inspecting the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is aside elevational view,-taken partially in cross-section, of a binding device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 1 and binding stand and the free end of the depressable member and the staple magazine.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a modified binding device.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the table device disclosed in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the table device illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, taken partially in cross-section, of a further embodiment of the binding device constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the slide frame as mounted on the depressable member.

FIGS. ll-l6 are enlarged, fragmentary schematic views illustrating the coaction of the components illustrated in FIG. 10, said components being illustrated with the clutch member in its three different operational positions.

FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 are side elevational views, taken partially in cross-section, and illustrating therein the binding stand and the manner in which it coacts with the staple magazine and the depressable member when they are positioned directly adjacent the binding stand.

FIG. 20 is an exploded perspective view illustrating therein the components of the pawl and clutch mechanism as mounted within the binding stand.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are elevational cross-sectional views illustrating a modified binding stand structure and its coaction with the staple magazine and the depressable member.

FIGS. Band 24 are side elevational views, taken partially in section, and illustrating therein still a further binding machine constructed according to the present invention. v

Certain terminology'willbe used in the following descriptions for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. The words upwardly, downwardly, leftwardly and rightwardly will refer to directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words inwardly and outwardly will refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the device and designated parts thereof. Said terminology will include the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. i q

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objects and urposes of the present invention are met by providing a binding device which includes a staple holding magazine pivotally mounted for swinging movement toward and away from a tape holding and binding stand. A depressable member is positioned adjacent the staple magazine and is pivotally mounted for swinging movement therewith and relative thereto, and is provided with a staple ejecting blade, a tape cutting blade, and a tape chip member mounted thereon. An actuating lever is pivotally mounted on the frame of the device and, through intermediate coacting structure, 7

causes swinging movement of the magazine and depressable member toward the tape holding and binding stand. The intermediate control structure causs the depressable member and frame to initially rotate with the actuating lever,,which rotation is interrupted to permit continued rotation of the lever relative to the depressable member. A tape tightening device, actuated when the rotation of the depressable member is interrupted, coacts between the depressable member and the actuating lever to cause a tape dispensed from the end of the depressable member to be withdrawn and tightened in surrounding relation to an article.The tape holding and binding stand has a holding pawl thereon for holding the free end of the tape which extends between the depressable member and the binding stand. Continued swinging movement of the actuating lever, after the period of motion interruption, again causes the magazine and depressable member to be swung with the actuating lever and moved into engagement with the binding stand whereby the depressable member ejects a staple for binding the tape in surrounding relationship to an article. The depressable member also severes the loop of tape and causes the new free end of tape to be fed under the pawl so that same is held to permit withdrawal of a new stretch of tape when the actuating lever, the magazine and the depressable member are pivotally returned to their original positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The binding device of the present invention will be described in detail by reference to an embodiment thereof illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. On a base plate 1 there is mounted a tape receiving stand 2, a receiving stand 3, and a binding stand 4. The tape receiving stand 2 has mounted thereon a tape magazine 5 accommodating a coiled binding tape A. The receiving stand3 pivotally supports thereon, by means of pivot 11, the rear ends of a frame or magazine 6 accommodating staples B therein and a depressable member 10. The member 10 has a plate-like staple driver for driving out the frontmost channel-shaped staple B, a cutter 8 for cutting the tape A and a chip clearing plate 9.

A hook-shaped bent lever 12 is pivoted to said receiving stand 3 by a pivot 13. Furthermore, a segmental gear 14 is fitted to the pivot 13, and a spring 15 is interposed between said gear 14 and stand 3 to spring-load the lever 12 so that it is urged clockwise. To the lever 12 is attached a control plate 16 whose lower surface forms a circular are 17 which is drawn with its center at the pivot 13. The front and rear ends .of plate 16 are formed as stop members 19 and 19 with a notched groove 18 being formed therebetween. A roller 21, which is rotatably supported on a projecting wing 20 on the depressable member 10, is disengageably held in contact with the circular are 17, notched groove 18 and stop members 19 and 19 on said control plate 16.

A tape driving guide roller 22 is rotatably supported on the front end of a slide frame 23, being disposed opposite a floating guide roller 24 mounted on member 10. By means of said frame 23 which is slidably, forward and backward, fitted in the depressable frame 10, the driving roller 22 is caused either to contact or depart from the roller 24. A clutch member 25 is pivoted at its rear end to the depressable member 10 in such a manner that its front end always contacts an inclined portion 23 at the rear end of the slide frame 23. Clutch member 25 is also spring-loaded downwards by a spring 26. A downwardly directed projection 25' formed on the clutch member 25 is positioned so-that it may freely contact or depart from the receiving stand 3.

A large pulley 27 and a gear 28 are rotatably supported on the receiving stand 3 by a shaft 29. The gear 28 is engaged with said segmental gear 14, while the pulley 27 is. connected by a belt 31. to a small pulley 30 fitted coaxially with the driving roller 22.

A staple bending bench or anvil 32 and a tape holding plate 33 are mounted on the binding stand 4. A holding pawl 34, which has an inclined surface 34' at the front end thereof, is slidably fitted so that it moves in and out of a hole 33' in the tape holding plate 33. A

spring 35 is interposed between the base end of the pawl and the binding stand 4, thereby spring-loading the holding pawl so that its tip is always inserted in the hole 33'.

A tape chip receiving case 36 is removably fitted to the lower part of the binding stand 4, and a table plate 37 is detachably mounted on the upper end of the stand 4. A removable table plate 39 is detachably secured to clinching projections 38 formed at vertical intervals on the stand 4.

The binding device also has a gauge plate 40 for controlling the position in which an article C is to .be bound. Gauge plate 40 defines one side of the space 41 and is-mounted on the foundation plate 1 (FIG. 4) in such a manner that it can move sidewards at right angles to the frame 6. The binding device also has a plate spring 42 interposed between the frame 6 and the depressable member 10.

OPERATION The operational features of the invention will now be described. For setting the device prior to binding, the removable table plate 39 is fitted to a suitable clinching projection 38 depending upon the size of an article C to be bound, and the gauge plate 40 is moved sidewards to control the binding position. Since the roller' 21 on the projected wing 20 is stopped by the stop member 19 at the front end of the control plate 16 attached to the lever 12, the frame 6 and the depressable member 10 are caused to rotate clockwise by the elasticity of the spring 15 through the lever 12, whereby their front ends are lifted up to leave a wide space between them and the binding stand 4. The projection 25 on .the clutch 25, which is separated from the receiving stand 3, is caused by the spring 26 to rotate counterclockwise so that its front end is at the lower end of the inclined portion 23' of the slide frame 23. The slide frame 23 is withdrawn to the right by' the elasticity of the belt 31 and the driving roller 22, whereby roller 22 is thus separated from the roller 24. The tape A is then manually pulled fromthe tape magazine 5. The tape is then manually passed from above the depressable member 10 through said two rollers 22 and 24 until its tip reaches the tape holding plate 33 on the binding stand 4. The pawl 34 is then pushed backward by the operators finger against the force of the return spring 35, and then the tip of the tape A is inserted into the space between the pawl 34 and the plate 33. The pawl is then manually released whereby the spring 35 then again moves the pawl forwardly so that the tape A is held in the hold 33' in said plate 33 by the holding pawl 34.

To proceed with the binding .operation from this state, the article C is held in contact with the tape A stretched between the frame 6 and the binding stand 4. Article C is then moved onto the removable table 39 in such a manner as to push the tape A into the space 41 (see the arrow in FIG. 1), where the article C rests in a stable condition. By this action, further tape A is pulled out of the tape magazine 5. Then, by depressing the lever 12 against the force of the spring 15, the roller 21- (which may be at least partially withdrawn from the groove 18 due to the lever 12 being located in a more elevatedposition than that illustrated in FIG. 1) slips into the notched groove 18in the control plate 16 in contact with the front end of the arched surface 17 and, thereby, lever 12 and wing 20 rotate together with the frame 6 and the depressable member 10. The downward swinging movement of the frame 6 causes the projection 25' on the clutch 25 to move downward into contact with the upper surface of the receiving stand 3, whereby the clutch 25 is rotated clockwise and its front end, in turn pushes the inclined portion 23' of the slide frame 23 forward. The slide frame 23 thus slides to the left against the tensile force of the belt 31, whereby the driving roller 22 is brought closer to the floating roller 24 to thereby hold the tape A. As the member is swingably moved toward the binding stand 4, the roller 21 becomes disengaged from the notch 18 permittingthe circular arc 17 to move over the roller 21, thereby causing the lever 12 alone to swingably move toward the stand 4. The disengagement of roller 21 from notch 18 is due to the difference in the locus of rotation between the roller 21 and the control plate 16, which results from the difference in the' position between the pivot 11 of the frame 6and the depressable member 10 and the pivot 13 of the lever 12. As the lever 12 thus rotates, the segmental gear 14 fixed to the pivot 13 engages the gear 28 to rotate it and the coaxially attached large pulley 27, whereby the smallpulley 30 and driving roller 22 are also rotated through the belt 31. The rotation of the driving roller 22 thus causes the tape A, which has been pulled out and loosely wound around the article C, to be withdrawn to tightly surround the article C. About this time, the roller 21 reaches the stop member 19' at the rear end of the arched surface 17 on the control plate. 16, and the frame 6 contacts the staple bending bench 32 on the binding stand 4 and holds the tape A as the lever 12 is continuously depressed. By further depressing the lever 12, the depressable member 10 descends against the elasticity of the plate spring 42, whereby the staple driver 7 at the'front end drives out a staple B which then passes through and binds the tape A heldon the staplebending bench 32. Further depressing of lever 12 and member 10 causes the cutter 8 to'cut the tape A between the tape holding plate 33 and the staple bending bench 32, whereupon the chip clearing plate9 contacts'the inclined surface 34" of the holding pawl, therebycausing the holding pawl 34 to move to theleft against the elasticity of the spring 35 to remove the pawl from the hole 33'. The chip clearing plate 9 causes the chip or loose end of tape to drop into the tape chip receiving case 36 and brings a new tip of the tape A, produced as a-result of the previous cutting operationjin' front of the hole 33 in the tape holding plate 33 (see the dot dash line position in FIG.

When the lever 12 is lifted, the circular arc 17 on the control plate 16 moves over the roller 21, whereby'said roller 21 contacts the stop-member 19 at the front end and raises the depressable member 10 and the frame 6 together. The chip clearing plate 9 thus disengages the holding pawl 34, and the pawl 34 is caused by the spring 35 to be inserted in the hole 33' for sticking and thereby holding the new tip of the tape A. The tape A is then pulled out from the magazine S-as the lever 12, the frame 6 and the depressable member 10 are rotated clockwise toward their original FIG. 1 position. The binding operation is completed by removing the article C which has been bound, whereupon a further binding operation can be performed in the same manner as described above.

The binding of the article C will be carried out after suitably adjusting the height of the removable table plate39 depending on the size of the article C.

In-addition to the above-described embodiment, it is also possible to provide a pedal on the lever 12 by connecting the two by means of a link mechanism or the like. This makes it possible to carry out the binding operation through the indirect actuation of the lever 12 by depressing the pedal.

As is evident from the above, the device according to the present invention is capable of pulling back the tape wound around the article but not yet bound to-' gether', by the skillful use of the difference in the rotation locus resultant from the difference in the points where the handle 12 and the frame 6 and depressable member 10 are pivoted. At the same time, the device is capable of firmly holding and tightening the tape by causing the driving roller 22 to contact the floating roller 24 by sliding the slide frame 23 by the clutch 25. It is also possible to operate the device smoothly during the binding and returning processes by reducing the abrasion resistance of the tape A by separating said two rollers. Simultaneously with the binding of the tape by the staple, the cutting of the tape, the removing of the chipand the holding of the new tip of the tape are autoand size of articles can be suitably bound. The binding stand fixed on the foundation plate and other various placement table mechanisms serve to hold and bind the article in a stable condition, irrespective of the impact caused by the depressive force of the lever. This also permits the tight binding of the article, together with the above-mentioned continuous lever operation. As

such, the present invention can provide an excellent binding device equipped with various characteristic features. i 3

MODIFICATIONS I, I

6-8 illustrate a binding device'similarto the device disclosed in FIGS. 1-5, and specifically the structural features of the binding stand. Thus, corresponding parts of FlGS.1-5 and 68 have been given identical reference numbers. 7 v

The tape holding and binding stand 4 has projections 43 horizontally extending outward on both sides thereof at its'upper endJ-On the other hand, an engaging groove 44 is formed on the under surface of-the table plate 37, which platealso has a cut-away portion 45-for accommodatingrthe tape holding plate 33 and pawl 34. By slidingly engaging the projections 43 with the grooves 44, the table plate 37 is detachably mounted on the tape holding stand 4. On the opposite walls of said tape holding stand 4 are formed several engaging projections 38 by means of punching or the like, at suitable vertical intervals. On the other hand,

removably-fitted to the stand 4. When the article C to be bound is large, the receiving table 39 is removed beforehand. In the case of a small article C, the receiving table 39 is attached at a suitable height in advance. If the article C can be held by one hand, the table plate 37 is removed and the article is bound directly adjacent the binding member 32.

Thus, this device offers various excellent results by fitting, removing or adjusting the position of the table plate and the receiving table depending on the size of the article to be bound. This reduces the amount of binding tape to be drawn out or pulled back, and

.thereby decreases the waste in operation. This also enables the smooth handling of the article during the binding operation and, further, ensures secure binding.

FIGS. 9-23 illustrate therein a further embodiment of the binding machine of the present invention, and particularly the structural features relating to the sliding frame 23 and the binding stand 4. Again, corresponding parts will be identified by the same reference numbers used in FIGS. l-5.

The floating roller 24 is mounted within a slot formed at the tip of the depressable frame 10, and the driving roller 22 is oppositely held by the frame 23, the two rollers constituting a tape holding roller group. The frame 23 is fitted in the depressable frame 10 and is slidable both forwards and backwards relative thereto. The small pulley 30 is fixed to the shaft of the driving roller 22 and connected to the large pulley 27, which is fitted to the pivot of the depressable frame 10, by means of the belt 31 so that the driving roller 22 is always pulled backwards. A hold-down roller 51 is pivotably supported on the wing and kept in contact with the upper surface of the frame 23, thereby facilitating the forward and backward sliding of the frame 23 and preventing its upward movement. At the rear end of the frame 23 are formed an inclined portion 52 in the lower part and a chamferred portion 53 in the upper part. The clutch plate is pivotally attached to the projecting wing 20 and is spring-loaded sidewards and downwards by the spring 26 fitted to the pivot. The front end of the clutch plate forms a projecting section 54 which is adapted to engage the inclined portion 52 of the frame 23. The clutch plate 25 also hasa downwardly projecting section 25' which is adapted to contact a stop 55 fixed to the stand 3'.

The following is a brief description of the operation of the above-described structure. While the depressable frame 10 is held up by the spring 56, the clutch plate 25 is lowered by the spring 26, and the driving roller 22 is therefore pulled backward by the tensile force of the belt 31 thereby leaving a gap between itself and the floating roller 24. This keeps the tape A in a state to be freely drawn out (see FIGS. 1 l and 12). By inserting the article C in such a manner as to push the tape A inwardly toward the stand 3 and then pulling down the lever 12, the roller 21 contacts the tip of the arcuate plate 17 so that the depressable frame 10 is also swung downwardly. This causes the projecting section 25 of the clutch plate 25 to contact the member 55 to rotate the clutch plate upwards. This rotation causes the projecting section 54 to advance upward while pushing forward the inclined portion 52 of the frame 23. The roller holding frame 23 is thus pushed forward and causes the floating and driving rollers 24 and 22 to hold the tape A therebetween (see FIGS. 13 and 14). By this time the roller 21 disengages the tip of the arcuate plate 17 since the depressable frame 10 and the lever 12 are pivoted about different points. The roller 21 then moves along the undersurface of the arcuate plate 17, while the segmental rack 14 engages the pinion 28 which rotates as the lever 12 is depressed. This causes the large pulley 27 to rotate, thereby rotating the driving roller 22 through the belt 31 to pull back the tape A. At this time, the projecting section 54 of the clutch plate 25, which has reached the flat portion between the inclined portion 52 and the chamferred portion 53 (FIG. 14), is kept in a stable condition. The driving roller 22 is thus kept in contact with the floating roller 24 and pulls back the tape A to thereby tighten the tape around the article C to be bound. By the time the tightening of the tape A has been completed, the roller 21 reaches the rear end of the arcuate plate 17. This causes the lever 12 and the depressable frame 10 to be lowered together, and the stapledriving plate 7 on the frame '10 drives a staple out of the magazing 6 to bind the tape A. As the depressable frame 10 is thus lowered, the clutch plate 25 is caused by the member 55 to rotates further upwards, thereby disengaging the flat portion and coming into contact with the chamferred portion 53 (FIG. 16). The chamferred portion 53 serves to push the clutch plate 25 sidewardly against the force of the spring 26, thereby disengage the clutch plate from the frame 23. The roller holding frame 23 isthen withdrawn by the tensile force of the belt 31, thereby. leaving a gap between the floating and driving rollers 22 and 24 to enable the subsequent drawing-out of the tape without resistance. Whenthe lever 12 is released, it is brought back to its original position by the spring 15, and the depressable frame 10 also is returned upward by the spring 56. The clutch plate25 is brought back by the reaction force of the spring 26 to a position below the inclined portion 52 past the side of the rear end of the frame 23, thereby making itself prepared for a subsequent binding operation.

As described above, it is possible according to the present device to securely pull back the tape when it should be tightened by bringing the driving roller into contact with the floating roller through the operation of the clutch system by means'of the lever. This tightening operation can be suspended during the time when binding work is effected or the lever and the depressable frame a're on their return trip. Furthermore, when the tape is drawn out of its dispenser, the driving roller may be detachedfrom the floating roller by the tensile force of the driving belt and the clutch system, so that the tape may be moved smoothly.

Considering now the binding stand 4, a description will be given with respect to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l720. The stand 4 has therein a recess in which are positioned a tape supporting plate 61, a clutch plate 62 and a push rod plate 63. The tape supporting plate 61 is provided with a holding pawl 34 at its upper end, a pin 64 at its center, and a slot 65 at its lower part. The clutch plate 62 is provided with a hookshaped .clutch hole 66 at its center having a downward section 66a and a sideward section 66b at right angles,

and a small hole 67 is formed in the lower part. The push rod plate 63 is provided with a receiving member 68 projecting from its upper side, a semi-triangular hole 69 which has a lower side 69a, an upper side 69c and an inclined side 69b therebetween, at its center, and a slot 70 in its lower part. A clutch pin 71 fitted to the stand 4 passes through the slot 65, small hole 67 and slot 70. At the same time, the pin.64 on the tape supporting plate 61 passes through the clutch hole 66 and the hole 69. A spring 72 is interposed between the inner surfaceof the stand 4 and a cut-out recess 73 in the tape supporting plate 61, and another spring 74 is also interposed between the stand 4 and the receiving member 68 of the push rod plate 63. The top of the stand 4 is provided with a receiving table 32 for use in binding the tape and a tape receiving plate 33 into which the holding pawl 34 is inserted to hold the tape. The depressable frame is provided with a rod holding plate 75 which is adapted to contact the push rod plate 63.

Now the operation of this device will be described. The tape A is stretched by passing the front tip thereof between the rollers 22 and 24 and through the tape feed plate 76 and holding the same with the holding pawl 34. By inserting an article to be bound in such a manner as to push in the stretched tape A and then pulling down the lever 12, the staple magazine 6 comes into contact with the receiving table 32 (see FIG. 17). On depressing the lever 12 further, the depressable frame 10 approaches the stand 4, whereupon the rod holding plate 75 contacts the upper surface of the push rod plate 63 and pushes it downward (FIG. 18). At the same time, the cutter 8 comes down to cut off the tape A. Almost at the same time, thestaple driver 7 drives out the staple B to bind together both ends of the tape A. When the push rod plate 63 is caused to slide downward by the rod holding plate 75, the pin 64, which is at the right side of the lower portion 69a of the hole-69 in said plate 63, is guided by the inclined side 69b to the upper end 690. This causes the tape supporting plate 61 to rotate to the left about the clutch pin 71 against the force of the spring 72, whereby the holding pawl 34 disengages the tape receiving plate 33 to release the tape A As the push rod plate 63 descends, the pin 64 also moves downward to the lower section 66a of the clutch hole 66 in the clutch plate 62, thereby preventing the tape supporting plate 61 from returning. Immediately after this, the chip clearing plate 9 guides a new tape end A, in front of the tape receiving plate 33 and pushes down the cut-away tape chip A (see FIG. 18). When binding is completed and the lever l2 is released to return the depressable frame 10 upward into its original position, the push rod plate 63 is caused to slide upward by'the spring 74 and the pin 64 on the tape supporting plate 61 reaches the lower portion 69a of the hole'69 (see FIG. 19). By pushing the pin 64 upward in the hole 69, the tape supporting plate 61 also goes up, whereby the pin 64 is caused to move to the upper side of the clutch hole 66 in the clutch plate 62. This causes the tape supporting plate 61 to be released and rotated to the right by the spring 72, thereby enabling the tape A to be held by sticking the holding pawl 34 through the new tape end A into the tape receiving plate 33.

Now the embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22 will be described. In this embodiment, the rod holding plate 75 projecting from the depressable frame 10 is omitted, while the stand 4 contains only a tape supporing plate 61, which is pivoted to the stand 4 by a pin 77 and is spring-loaded toward the tape receiving plate 33 by a spring 78. Furthermore, the upper side of the holding pawl 34 at the top end of the tape supporting plate '61 is formed. with an inclined shape so that its tip faces downward. All the other members are composed in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

The operational features of the embodiment of FIGS. 21 and 22 will now be described. Since the tape supporting plate 61' is spring-loaded by the spring 78, the tape A is always held between it and the tape receiving plate 33 (see FIG. 21). As the depressable frame 10 comes down, the cutter 8 and chip clearing plate 9 are also caused to descend. Almost at the same time as the cutter 8 cuts away the tape A, the chip clearing plate 9 engages the upper side of the holding pawl 34, while guiding the tape end A and the tape chip A in front of the tape receiving plate 33. The chip clearing plate 9 slides down along said inclined upper side to force aside the tape supporting plate 61 toward the open space by causing the same to rotate about the pin 77 against the force of the spring 78. This enables the chip clearing plate 9 to push the tape chip A downward and the tape end A below the holding pawl 34 (see FIG. 22). Whenbinding is completed and the depressable frame 10 is raised to its original position, the chip clearing plate 9 also'returns upward escaping from below the holding pawl 34. The tape end A is thus caught by the tip of the holding pawl 34.

Being composed and operated as described above, the device according to the present invention is capable of surely removing the chips of the tape,-which are produced as a result of the binding operation, from the tape receiving plate by the chip clearing plate. It also works to guide the new tape to and in front of the tape receiving plate and thereby enables the tape to be held by the holding pawl formed on the tape supporting plate. By synchronizing with this the removal of the tape chip, the holding pawl. is controlled to disengage from the tape receiving plate by means of the rod plate, which is projected from the depressable frame together with the chip clearing plate. This enables the holding pawl to be automatically and surely released by actuating the depressable frame, without requiring any other particular operation than the ordinary binding operation, thereby increasing the speed of the operation.

FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate therein another embodiment which is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 9, ex-

- point I, the roller 21 disengages the end 17a and contacts the circularly arched portion 17 since the lever 12 and the depressable frame 10 are pivoted to different points. At this time, the segmental rack 14 and the pinion 28 engage with each other and further swinging of I the lever 12 causes the-pulley 27 to rotate, thereby turning the'rollers 22 topull back the tape A. Until the lever 12 reaches point II (FIG. 24), the tape A alone is pulled back while the depressable frame 10 remains stationary. During-this period, the roller 21 remains in a predetermined position and moves along the circularly arched portion 17 of the lever 12. Whenthe tape A has been sufficiently tightened around the article C, the tape A causes a slip between the tightening rollers 22 and 24 so that no excessive force is applied to the article C.

When the lever 12 reaches point II, the roller- 21 contacts the stop member 19', whereupon the depressable frame starts to fall again with the lever'12. When the frame 10 touches the tape holding table 32, both ends of the tape A are bound together by a staple B and the ends are released from the tape holding pawl 34 and cut away. The article C will not slacken since the tape A is acted upon by the pull-back force until the moment it is cut away. When the lever 12 is released after the completion of binding, the lever 12 is brought back to its original position by the action of the spring 15. The depressable frame '10 is also pulled upward by the spring 56 and, at this time, the tightening rollers 22 and 24 tend to be turned in the opposite direction since the segmental rack 14 and the pinion 28 are engaged with each other; However, a one-way clutch is interposed between the pinion 28 and the pulley 27 to prevent the pulley 27 and the tightening rollers 22 and 24 from rotating and thereby prevents any excessive tape A from being drawn out. As the tape holding pawl 34 engages and holds the end of the tape A immediately before the depressable frame 10 separates from the tape holding table 32, the tape A is stretched between the tape holding table 32 and the tip of the depressable frame 10 when the frame 10 has returned to its original position, thereby completing the preparation for a subsequent binding operation.

As described above, the present invention makes it possible to keep the depressable frame temporarily stationary and pull back the tape during that period of time while continuing the lever operation in a successive pull-down motion, making skillful use of the locus resultant from the difference in the points where the depressable frame and the lever are pivoted. This enables not only a simple and quick operation but also a fast binding irrespective of the length of the tape which depends on the size of the article to be bound.

Although a particular preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail for illustrative purposes, it will be recognized that variations or modifications of the disclosed apparatus, including the rearrangement of parts, lie within the scope of the present invention.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device for binding a flexible loop of tape around one or more objects, comprising:

frame means; stapler means pivotally mounted on said frame means and including a staple magazine adapted to contain a plurality of staples and a control member mounted adjacent and movable relative to said magazine, said control member having means thereon for ejecting a staple from said magazine;

said frame means including anvil means coacting with said stapler means adjacent the free end thereof for permitting deformation of an ejected staple;

tape holding means mounted on said frame means adjacent said anvil means for engaging and holding a free end of a flexible tape;

guide means mounted on said stapler means adjacent the free end thereof for guiding a tape;

tape supply means for supplying a flexible tape to said guide means and for permitting a stretch of tape to extend between said tape holding means and said guide means when the free end of said stapler means is spaced from said anvil means,

whereby one or more objects can be positioned adjacent said stretch of tape and moved into said stretch of tape for permitting said stretch of tape to be looped therearound;

movable actuating means coacting with said stapler means for swingably moving same toward and away from said anvil means to permit said stretch of tape to be formed into a loop in surrounding relationship to said object and for causing said control member to be moved relative to said magazine after same has contacted said anvil means for causing ejection of a staple into and through the loop of tape for holding same;

said control member also including cutting means thereon for cutting the loop of tape; and

tape tightening means for pulling back a portion of the tape disposed between the holding means and the guide means for causing the stretch of tape to be tightened in surrounding relationship to the object when the actuating means is being moved.

2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said frame means and control means coacting between said lever and said control member for causing said control member to rotate with said lever, said control means also including lost-motion means for temporarily permitting rotation of the lever relative to the control member whereby said control member is thus temporarily maintained stationary.

. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said guide means includes a guide roller, and said tape tightening means including a rotation transmitting device drivingly connected between said lever and said guide roller, said rotation transmitting device being actuated at the time when said lost-motion means interrupts the rotation of said control member.

4. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein said stapler means is mounted on said frame means for swinging movement about a first axis and said actuating lever is mounted on said frame means for swinging movement about a second axis spaced from said first axis, and said lost-motion means including an arcuate cam surface formed on said actuating lever and generated about said second axis, and follower means mounted on said control member and positioned for engagement with said arcuate cam surface.

5. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein said guide means includes a guide roller, and said tape tightening means includes a belt drive transmission interconnected to said guide roller, said belt drive transmission being connected to and driven by said actuating lever.

6. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein said stapler means includes a frame member slidably supported on said control member for slidable move ment longitudinally thereof, said guide means including a first guide roller rotatably supported on said control member adjacent the free end thereof and a second guide roller rotatably supported on said frame member adjacent the end thereof disposed most closely adjacent the free end of said control member, whereby said guide rollers are normally disposed adjacent but slightly spaced from one another, means coacting between said slidable frame member and said frame means for causing said slidable frame member to be slidably moved longitudinally of said control member when said stapler means is swingably moved toward said anvil means for causing said second guide roller to be moved toward said first guide roller for tightly gripping the tape therebetween, and said tape tightening means including rotation transmitting means drivingly connected to one of said guide rollers and responsive to swinging movement of said actuating means for causing withdrawal of said tape as said actuating means and said stapler means are swingably moved toward said anvil means.

7. A device for slidinglymoving a tape tightening roller in a binder which comprises a group of tape holding rollers including a floating roller and a driving roller, said driving roller in the roller group being arranged in such a manner as to be rotated by rotating means, and a clutch device capable of causing the driving roller, which is normally kept separated from the floating roller, to slide so that it comes into contact wijh the floating roller to thereby hold the tape only when the tape must be tightened prior to binding.

8. A tape tighteningdevice in a binder which cornprises stapler means including a depressable frame having tape tightening rollers at the tip thereof and a lever adapted to drive out a staple by rotating said depressable frame,both being pivoted to a further frame, said lever being provided with an actuating portion for temporarily interrupting rotating movement of the depressable frame, and an interlocking mechanism for causing said tape tightening rollers to operate to pull the tape back during the period from the interruption of the rotating movement of the depressable frame to completion of binding.

9. A binding device which comprises a receiving stand and a binding stand mounted on a base means, said receiving stand being pivotally attached to a frame accommodating staples, a depressable member incorporating a mechanism to drive out a staple, cut a tape, remove chips of the tape thus cut away and position the free end of the tape, a tape tightening mechanism including a pair of rollers capable of guiding the tape and holding the same for effecting a tightening thereof, and a lever incorporating a control mechanism adapted to bind the tape by rotating said depressable member before binding, a rotation transmission mechanism adapted to transmit the turning force of the lever to the rollers in said tape tightening mechanism during said interruption, and said binding stand being provided with a staple bending bench and a mechanism for holding the tip of the tape.

10. A binding device according to claim 9, wherein said binding stand comprises a table plate detachably attached to the upper surface of the binding stand and a receiving table detachably attached to the opposite walls of the binding stand in such a manner that its height may be adjusted depending upon the size of the article to be bound. 

1. A device for binding a flexible loop of tape around one or more objects, comprising: frame means; stapler means pivotally mounted on said frame means and including a staple magazine adapted to contain a plurality of staples and a control member mounted adjacent and movable relative to said magazine, said control member having means thereon for ejecting a staple from said magazine; said frame means including anvil means coacting with said stapler means adjacent the free end thereof for permitting deformation of an ejected staple; tape holding means mounted on said frame means adjacent said anvil means for engaging and holding a free end of a flexible tape; guide means mounted on said stapler means adjacent the free end thereof for guiding a tape; tape supply means for supplying a flexible tape to said guide means and for permitting a stretch of tape to extend between said tape holding means and said guide means when the free end of said stapler means is spaced from said anvil means, whereby one or more objects can be positioned adjacent said stretch of tape and moved into said stretch of tape for permitting said stretch of tape to be looped therearound; movable actuating means coacting with said stapler means for swingably moving same toward and away from said anvil means to permit said stretch of tape to be formed into a loop in surrounding relationship to said object and for causing said control member to be moved relative to said magazine after same has contacted said anvil means for causing ejection of a staple into and through the loop of tape for holding same; said control member also including cutting means thereon for cutting the loop of tape; and tape tightening means for pulling back a portion of the tape disposed between the holding means and the guide means for causing the stretch of tape to be tightened in surrounding relationship to the object when the actuating means is being moved.
 2. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein said actuating means includes an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said frame means and control means coacting between said lever and said control member for causing said control member to rotate with said lever, said control means also including lost-motion means for temporarily permitting rotation of the lever relative to the control member whereby said control member is thus temporarily maintained stationary.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein said guide means includes a guide roller, and said tape tightening means including a rotation transmitting device drivingly connected between said lever and said guide roller, said rotation transmitting device being actuated at the time when said lost-motion means interrupts the rotation of said control member.
 4. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein said stapler means is mounted on said frame means for swinging movement about a first axis and said actuating lever is mounted on said frame means for swinging movement about a second axis spaced from said first axis, and said lost-motion means including an arcuate cam surface formed on said actuating lever and generated about said second axis, and follower means mounted on said control member and positioned for engagement with said arcuate cam surface.
 5. A binding device according to claim 2, wherein said guide means includes a guide roller, and said tape tightening means includes a belt drive transmission interconnected to said guide roller, said belt drive transmission being connected to and driven by said actuating lever.
 6. A binding device according to claim 1, wherein said stapler means includes a frame member slidably supported on said control member for slidable movement longitudinally thereof, said guide means including a first guide roller rotatably supported on said control member adjacent the free end thereof and a second guide roller rotatably supported on said frame member adjacent the end thereof disposed most closely adjacent the free end of said control member, whereby said guide rollers are normally disposed adjacent but slightly spaced from one another, means coacting between said slidable frame member and said frame means for causing said slidable frame member to be slidably moved longitudinally of said control member when said stapler means is swingably moved toward said anvil means for causing said second guide roller to be moved toward said first guide roller for tightly gripping the tape therebetween, and said belt tightening means including rotation transmitting means drivingly connected to one of said guide rollers and responsive to swinging movement of said actuating means for causing withdrawal of said tape as said actuating means and said stapler means are swingably moved toward said anvil means.
 7. A device for slidingly moving a tape tightening roller in a binder which comprises a group of tape holding rollers including a floating roller and a driving roller, said driving roller in the roller group being arranged in such a manner as to be rotated by rotatinG means, and a clutch device capable of causing the driving roller, which is normally kept separated from the floating roller, to slide so that it comes into contact wijh the floating roller to thereby hold the tape only when the tape must be tightened prior to binding.
 8. A tape tightening device in the binder which comprises stapler means including a depressable frame having tape tightening rollers at the tip thereof and a lever adapted to drive out a staple by rotating said depressable frame, both being pivoted to a frame, said lever being provided with an actuating portion for temporarily interrupting rotating movement of the depressable frame, and an interlocking mechanism for causing said tape tightening rollers to operate to pull the tape back during the period from the interruption of the rotating movement of the depressable frame to completion of binding.
 9. A binding device which comprises a receiving stand and a binding stand mounted on a base means, said receiving stand being pivotally attached to a frame accommodating staples, a depressable member incorporating a mechanism to drive out a staple, cut a tape, remove chips of the tape thus cut away and position the free end of the tape, a tape tightening mechanism including a pair of rollers capable of guiding the tape and holding the same for effecting a tightening thereof, and a lever incorporating a control mechanism adapted to bind the tape by rotating said depressable member before binding, a rotation transmission mechanism adapted to transmit the turning force of the lever to the rollers in said tape tightening mechanism during said interruption, and said binding stand being provided with a staple bending bench and a mechanism for holding the tip of the tape.
 10. A binding device according to claim 9, wherein said binding stand comprises a table plate detachably attached to the upper surface of the binding stand and a receiving table detachably attached to the opposite walls of the binding stand in such a manner that its height may be adjusted depending upon the size of the article to be bound. 